Assume the position: Fantasy spots locked in

TEAM LISTS have been finalised for the 18 clubs and that means our friends at Champion Data have assigned a position (or two) to all 808 senior and rookie listed players.

The stats gurus allocate a position based on a player's role in 2017. A total of 141 players are classed as 'utilities' and named as dual-position.

Hot off the press, here are the most relevant Fantasy position changes for next season.

Pick of the dual-position players

Some of the most important members of your team are the dual-position players (DPPs). Often these guys are the midfielders who spend some time forward or back and historically, they have been some of the highest averaging players in their positions.

The only player available as a FWD in 2018 to average more than 100 points is Geelong’s Sam Menegola. He gained FWD status in round 12 this year and retains DPP status.

Michael Barlow (who has recovered from a broken leg) will also be a MID/FWD following his addition last season. His former teammate David Mundy could be a relevant player in the new year as he is eligible to be selected in the forward line.

Another to add FWD status last season was Travis Boak and he will start the season as a DPP.

Young guns Rhys Mathieson, Darcy Parish and Will Setterfield will move up the Fantasy Draft rankings as MID/FWDs. While at the other end, veterans Daniel Wells, Kieren Jack and Dale Thomas are among some of the former Fantasy stars who have DPP status.

Some of the players eligible to be selected as DEF/MIDs include Pearce Hanley, James Aish and Paul Seedsman.

New year, new positions

West Coast's Elliot Yeo heads the list of players who have been given an all-new position for 2018. Now available to select as a defender, the 24-year-old started the season in tremendous fashion averaging 110 across the first eight rounds.

Fellow Eagle Liam Duggan played across the half-back and is now a defender.

Carlton's Liam Jones reinvented himself in defence and as such he can be selected as a DEF after being a Fantasy FWD for his career.

Daniel Rich, Jack Crisp, Bernie Vince and Brandon Ellis are also available as pure defenders.

Named as a MID last season and picking up FWD status in round six, Robbie Gray has been named as FWD only. Liam Picken and Jake Melksham are other interesting names that can be selected as forwards.

Midfielders only

With the good news, there has to be some bad.

Magpie Taylor Adams was the most selected player in Fantasy Classic this year and with good reason. He was named as a DEF/MID and was a lock in tens of thousands of teams from the get-go. It was clear that his role was predominantly playing through the midfield and sadly, that is the only place we can pick him next season.

Likewise, Jack Macrae was one of the poster boys of the available forwards. He, along with Isaac Smith, Jack Steele and Shaun Higgins, are MID only for 2018 after being FWD eligible this year.

New Blue Matthew Kennedy has a few coaches excited about his potential opportunity at his new club. There is still plenty of upside, but some of the allure of the former Giant was as a mid-priced forward.

Potential position upgrades

A favourite past-time of dedicated Fantasy coaches in the off-season is predicting who will be available in what position.

We have already heard that Tom Rockliff will be playing more forward than ever before and that Gary Ablett may spend time inside 50, working in tandem with Patrick Dangerfield.

While the trio are MID only at this stage, they will be among some of the players who will be monitored by Champion Data for a position addition during the season.

If individuals are spending a significant amount of time playing a role that differs to their initial (single) Fantasy position, they may become dual position players when additions role out ahead of rounds six, 12 and 18.

All 2018 Fantasy positions and prices will be revealed ahead of the launch of the game in late January.

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